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Former Bengals DT Domata Peko's father-in-law gets $1M for selling $2B Powerball ticket

By Callie Lawson-Freeman, Yahoo Sports

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos Nov 25, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos nose tackle Domata Sr. Peko (94) following the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports - 11733054

By Callie Lawson-Freeman, Yahoo Sports

The winning ticket for the record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot was sold Tuesday by Joe Chahayed, former Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko's father-in-law.

Chahayed owns Joe's Service Center in Altadena, a community in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles. He will receive a Powerball bonus of $1 million for selling the winning ticket.

“Congratulations Baba Chahayed!!! Alexa play A Mili by [Lil Wayne]” Peko wrote on Twitter.

The defensive lineman was picked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth-round of the 2006 NFL draft and spent 11 seasons with the team. He went on to play for the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and most recently the Arizona Cardinals. He hasn't formally retired despite not playing the last two seasons.

He made his own million-dollar headline in September, when he listed his longtime home in the Cincinnati area for sale. The Crestview Hills, Kentucky home, less than 20 minutes south of downtown Cincinnati, was listed for $1.8 million.

Peko shared the news on his Instagram story writing, "You deserve it! My wife Anna's dad, let's go."

Anna isn't Chahayed's only child. He is reported to have emigrated to Los Angeles from Syria in the 1980s with his wife, two kids and around $14,000 to his name. He now has five children and ten grandchildren with another one on the way.

Chahayed, 75, said he would spend the $1 million on his family, donate some to the community, and continue working because he loves his job.

“I raised my kids, graduated from the college and bought a house and I bought a business all because I work hard and become an honest man," Chahayed said.

The jackpot is the largest lottery jackpot ever won by far, beating the previous record $1.586 billion prize won by three Powerball ticket holders in 2016. While Chahayed doesn’t know who the winner is, he says he hopes it’s someone from the community.

The owner of the winning ticket has one year to come forward to claim the once-in-a-lifetime prize.

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